Republican Bill Hagerty enters Tennessee's US Senate race

Friday, September 6, 2019, Vol. 43, No. 36

NASHVILLE (AP) — Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty has officially filed to run for Tennessee's open U.S. Senate seat.

The 59-year-old Republican launched his campaign Monday. The news comes nearly two months after President Donald Trump announced in a tweet that Hagerty would join the state's most competitive 2020 contest with the position being vacated by outgoing Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander.

In his campaign launch video, Hagerty says he's running to "fight the radical socialist agenda" and to support Trump's judicial nominations.

Hagerty has served in a number of executive positions ranging from chief financial officer, to chairman and chief executive officer. He also founded his own private equity and investment firm.

Trauma surgeon Manny Sethi has also filed to run as a Republican for the seat.